I could have just as easily titled this post “just when you think you know something”.  I’ve always preferred grey and drizzly days, light or no wind- classic bas fishing conditions. Sunshine has never been my preference.  And yet, last year I hammered a lot of fish on finesse baits on still sunny days.  Then just this past Wednesday I had a great day in 85 degrees bluebird sky on moving baits.  I should hope for sun more often I think.

 

The forecast for both days this weekend was 60 degrees and drizzle for 48+ straight hours, wind maxing out at 4 mph but not frequently or sustained.  The bass are long done spawning and the bluegills are in full swing.  Water temps are mid to high 70’s now so we’re well into the early summer routine.  For me and my lakes, that means a great early morning topwater (buzzbait) bite for the 2 hours before sunrise and the hour after.  It has been a consistent thing for the past 5 seasons.  Between the weather and the season, I thought for sure yesterday would have been a banger early so I set a 3:15 alarm to be out of the house by 4 and on the water by 445.  That was later than I wanted, but no matter since it was staying gray all morning.  I had rods rigged, but I only pulled one out at the dock and started down the bank.  Immediately things were weird.  There were shad feeding on top everywhere and not a thing touching them.  They were flipping on the surface, some even coming out of the water and there wasn’t a single bass out chasing them.  Maybe that should have been an early clue but I was stubborn.  I ran the first third of the lake with a buzzbait, first my standard black, then swapping to white in case the bass were actually interested in the shad.  I caught two and missed one, but for what I was expecting that wasn’t enough (even if one was a 3lb fish).  I did the next third alternating between a buzzbait, spinnerbait, and bladed jig to no avail.  The bass definitely weren’t doing what I was planning.

 

So plan B.  I knew they would be in the areas I just fished, but they just weren’t looking up or even mid depth.  I figured with the rain and the bluegills they would at least be eating, so a couple bottom rigs got tied up as I let the trolling motor take me across the lake.  The good news was that I had the entire lake to myself so I didn’t have to contend with anyone else which was lovely.  It didn’t take long and the trusty rage bug came through.  It wasn’t a numbers kind of day (only 8 in total) but half were over 3lb with the biggest at 4-03.  I’ll take a 15lb bag any day when they pull like these freight trains. 

 

 

Great Job!

When I doubt throw the bug!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Way to adapt and figure them out! Those kinds of days are almost the most memorable. 

4 hours ago, Mike L said:

Great Job!

When I doubt throw the bug!!

 

 

Mike

 

Yeah, pretty much.  I said it to Katy on another thread, but when I don’t know what else to do I put on a rage bug and 3/8 oz weight and just start pitching to every piece of cover.  

A fifteen-pound bag with a four-pounder is a solid morning. Well angled! 

 

FWIW, I also caught bass on a Rage Bug this morning. 

8 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

 

FWIW, I also went through a bag of rage bugs on bass this morning. 

 

Thanks.  Also, I fixed that last line for you.  

Fish don’t know the rules, they just keep on